Just a few days to go . . . ready for details!

[TinkerKell-ey]

Hi all - first off I want to shout out a great big THANK YOU for all the great info shared on this site. I like to consider myself a WDW pro, but we're headed to DL for the very first time on Wednesday.

I think I'm ready, and up to speed on FP, EE, PS and the like. What I'm looking for now are the "details". Things that if you blink, you'll miss 'em. For instance, at POTC, the boney pirates playing chess in the walk thru to the boats, their game is a stalemate. And the detail on the luggage tags on the luggage at the train station in WDW is so cute - worth a few extra minutes to browse . . . any tidbits like these for DL?

Also, any comments on my plan of action:
Thursday 11/8: DL w/EE & CA , rides,early dinner at Ariel's Grotto, then catch 7 pm parade

Friday DL/CA , rides, fireworks 9:25

Saturday -Off to Legoland (trying to avoid the Veteren's Day crowds, though it will probably be busy at Legoland too?)

Sunday - Goofy's Kitchen for breakfast, try to catch some of the "shows" Aladin/Bill Hill/etc. thus avoiding ride lines as much as possible

Mon - Off to Aquarium of the Pacific & Huntington Beach, Ruby's for lunch. Fingers crossed that crowds will head home early due to school Tuesday and we can catch 8:30 Fantasmic and maybe a few rides early evening.

Tues - Last day - DL/CA Princess Faire, Fantasmic if we missed it (or again!) and Cafe Orleans for early dinner-menu looks really yummy (Blue Bayou's didn't thrill me for the $$$. Any WDW visitors-is it similar in "ambiance" to the restaurant in Epcot's Mexico?)

Wed - LAX to Minniapolis to Detroit to home - BooHoo!

Thanks for reading and any tips . . .

 

[teacups]

Autopia at night is not to be missed. We had the fireworks shooting in the background one night! The kids will remember that for a very long time.

I have to admit (and there are posts here someplace to prove it!) I was really worried about Blue Bayou. I didnt think anything sounded good on the menu. I was SO WRONG! We had the best lunch there!!! The food, great staff, awesome atmosphere and those rolls are the perfect fixin's for a fab time! I will go back! The pirates punch is GOOOOD!

The band in New Orleans throw beads to the crowd. Raise your hands as you listen!

I always love Minnie's house.

Don't miss Soarin over California in DC! I kept one eye closed... but the other eye told me "WOW!" It's very tame, but I have a fear of heights.

Casey Junior train at night!

We like the Lilo and Stitch breakfast much more than the goofy's... but it wasnt bad either. (I just think we had a bad table.)

There are so many more that veteran DL folks could tell you.
Have a great trip!!!!!

 

[ShawnaF]

DL Railroad, I remembered parts of that from when I was a child and it took me years to figure out where they were from - never thought to get on the train! Plus the different views are really cool - great pics of Toontown from the train as well.

Marcelines - candy store in DTD, great place and pretty fun!

Christmas store in Frontierland - year round, irresistable, and just happy!

Mickey face in flowers at the entry - another childhood memory as well.

Blue Bayou is good, but we like Cafe Orleans too (our daughter doesn't like the kid's menu there though) - Cafe Orleans has 2 different Monte Cristo version - the 3 cheese one, oh boy, yum!!!!

Jazz Kitchen express window in DTD - fantastic food & fast, kid's popcorn chicken and smiley face fries are always a hit! Adults like them too - yum!

Napolini Pizza express window - a slice of that is amazingly fantastic.

I love to stand and watch across to the island during the day, last trip we saw Jack Sparrow all over there. The singing is pretty fantastic as well!

The Pooh Corner store is one of the most fun and the treats in there....well, don't diet while you're there.

Walk the DL Hotel property - there are a number of things to see and be happy about, but most miss them if they don't walk the paths.

Boy, I sure listed a bunch of food stuff - I'm not as overweight as you might imagine based on that! lol...guess DL is my cheat time!

 

[ShawnaF]

Oh - don't miss Pirates (may want to do it a few times), it's apparently MUCH bigger and different than WDW.

 

[TinkerKell-ey]

Great info . . . Thanks . . . any more out there?

Re: Cafe Orleans - yes, the all cheese Monte Cristo is a must try. When I made our PS, the CM was gushing about Cafe Orleans. She said they are billing it as the back-up to Blue Bayou and her and her husband actually prefer it - highly recommending the cheese Monte Cristo (is it the Quattro Frommage? 4-cheese?). We may try to have dessert only at the Blue Bayou - is it possible - maybe at an odd time?

Anyone have a comment on comparison of Blue Bayou to the restaurant in Mexico at Epcot (one of my fav's but the name escapes me). I obviously don't mean food-wise, I mean the fact that the Mexico restaurant simulates being outside, at night, and the boats from the ride go right by the tables that are waterside. . .

 

[DLR29]

Anyone have a comment on comparison of Blue Bayou to the restaurant in Mexico at Epcot (one of my fav's but the name escapes me). I obviously don't mean food-wise, I mean the fact that the Mexico restaurant simulates being outside, at night, and the boats from the ride go right by the tables that are waterside. . .

I have not eaten at the San Angel Inn. But I did walk by it. The atmospheres are very similar. Dark room with a waterside and boats floating by. However the Blue Bayou is lit by lanterns and the San Angel is mostly lit by candles and lamps.

If you're going to do dessert only at Blue Bayou, you shoud still get PS. I recomend getting the Flying Dutchman Cookie Boat. SOOOOOOOO good.

 

[InLoveWithTheBeast]

I'm not sure what anyone else will have to say about this, but my not to miss spot at DCA is the animation building. The drawing lessons are pretty cool, and I'm actually able to make my drawings look like they're supposed to. The walk through of different interactive exhibits is really fun. I'm not sure if it's really an amazing thing for many people, but everyone I've taken has found it fun, and it's definitely something different, that I don't believe WDW has yet.

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

Great info . . . Thanks . . . any more out there?

Re: Cafe Orleans - yes, the all cheese Monte Cristo is a must try. When I made our PS, the CM was gushing about Cafe Orleans. She said they are billing it as the back-up to Blue Bayou and her and her husband actually prefer it - highly recommending the cheese Monte Cristo (is it the Quattro Frommage? 4-cheese?). We may try to have dessert only at the Blue Bayou - is it possible - maybe at an odd time?

Anyone have a comment on comparison of Blue Bayou to the restaurant in Mexico at Epcot (one of my fav's but the name escapes me). I obviously don't mean food-wise, I mean the fact that the Mexico restaurant simulates being outside, at night, and the boats from the ride go right by the tables that are waterside. . .

I have eaten at the San Angel Inn in Epcot a couple times and BB in DL a couple times. It's similar, but BB is better, IMO, though that might be because I am more drawn to the old New Orleans look than I am the look of a Mexican village. If you enjoy the 'always night' atmosphere at San Angel, you will definitely enjoy the same type of thing at BB.

 

[teacups]

I'm not sure what anyone else will have to say about this, but my not to miss spot at DCA is the animation building. The drawing lessons are pretty cool, and I'm actually able to make my drawings look like they're supposed to. The walk through of different interactive exhibits is really fun. I'm not sure if it's really an amazing thing for many people, but everyone I've taken has found it fun, and it's definitely something different, that I don't believe WDW has yet.

I do totally agree! That whole place is cool.

 

[TinkerKell-ey]

Thanks again . . . just a note about the Animation Building. We are going Thursday or Friday - for those reading along - it is closing Saturday for a few days for some Snow White exhibit. I believe Turtle Talk with Crush is there too.

WDW does have an Animation building with lots of goodies, a funny movie, drawing "classes", and some interative stuff (which character are you like, etc.). It is in MGM/Disney Studios Park. We missed the drawing class last time, so I'm determined to catch it at DL. I'll let you know the differences - one is that Turtle Talk is at Epcot.